Benjamin a



(Model.)

B. A. LEGG.

DRIVE CHAIN. No. 375,296. A Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

if "im l ll UNITED STATES BENJAMIN A. LEGG, 0F COLUMBUS,

oHIo, AssIeNoR To THE LEoHNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming pari: of Letters Patent No. 375,296, dated lDecember 20, 1887.

Application filed February 9, 1887. Serial No. 227,056. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN A. LEGe, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of which the followingY is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure l is a top View of my improved chain. Fig. 2 is a bottom view. Fig. 3 is an edge view, partly in section, on dotted lines x rv, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an edge view taken from the opposite side of the chain. Fig. 5 shows two links in position for uncoupling, partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a view taken from the opposite side of the chain with the links at right angles to each other. Fig. 7 is a' detached view of one of the links. Fig. 8 is a detached view of the coupler. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modification. Fig. l0 is a detached view of one of the links shown in Fig. 9.

Like reference-letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A Each link is a duplicate of every other, and is constructed substantiall y as follows:

A A are the side bars, preferably round in crosssection; but they may be of any usual or preferred pattern.

B is an end bar, also round in cross section, at least upon its inner face, which engages with a coupler to be hereinafter described.

' a is a iiange or stop projecting from one end of the end bar, the inner face of the flange being by preference about on a line with the outside of the side bar.

b is a flange or stop at the opposite end of the end bar, and is of substantially the same form as the flange a, except that it does not project above the plane of the adjacent part of the end bar and side bar on one side of the link, Whereas the flange c projects upon both sides of the end bar. The opposite end bar,

`C c c, is preferably T-shaped in cross-section,

for a purpose which will be explained. The lips or iianges c c of this end bar maybe rightangled in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 3, or they may bewedge-shaped,havingtheirthicker edges adapted to engage with V-shaped slots or grooves in the coupler, to be hereinafter referred to, for a purpose which will be explained.

D represents, generally, the coupler. It is by preference of a length about equal to the distance between the side bars, and has a throat through its wall to permit the insertion of, first, an end bar B, and, secondly, an end bar C c c. The seat dfor the end bar B is circular in cross-section, so as to form with the end bar a suitable articulation. The seat for the en d bar C o o corresponds in form in cross-section to the form of said end bar in crosssectiom'so that the groove or recesses e e fit closely to the wings or flanges o c.

In assembling the parts to make up achain,

I first place the coupler over one of the end bars B, care being taken to turn it into the position indicated in Fig. 5; then place another link at right angles to the one having the coupler upon it, as indicated in same gure, and thrust the end bar into the coupler by an endwise movement, after which the links may be turned into a Working position when the engagement of the end bar C c c, with the anges a b will prevent accidental separation of the parts. When thus straightened out into working position, there will bo little or no wear except between the end bar B and its seat in the coupler, which will be very slight because of the length of the bearing. By making the outer edges of the danges or ribs 'c c thicker than their inner edges where they join the body C with correspondinglyshaped recesses or grooves in the'coupler these parts will constitute dovetailed joints adapted to prevent the spreading apart of this throat of the coupler.

. In Figs. 9 and l() the stops c b are omitted, and in place thereof one of the ribs or flanges c is formed with extensions which project on either side of the coupler and engage therewith, so as to prevent lateral movement of one of these parts or links relative to the other.

As shown, I prefer to make the extension at v one end of the iiange in the form of an L or shoulder, c', and after the links have been coupled or assembled rivet over or upset the opposite end, c?, as indicated in Fig. 9; but of course the rib may be made straight at either end and riveted over or upset at both ends after coupling, and, when preferred, the ribsupon `opposite sides of the end bar may be similarly formed.

IOO

Many modifications of this chain will suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic and may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, the essential part of which relates to a chain in which the links are eonneeted with cach other by means ofa U -shaped coupler of the character above pointed out and which operates in a manner radically different from that ofthe C-shaped couplers heretofore used.

Among the diiereuees in operation between the two kinds of coupler are the following: In the C-shaped couplers the pull or strain of the chain tends to separate the open ends of the couplers, whereas in my invention the reverse is the case-that is to say, in practical operation the pull of the round end bar Z1 op crates to close the open ends ofthe U-shaped coupler tightly upon the end bar C c c. Again, in chains having C-shaped couplers the parts are united by thrusting the end bars sidewise through the throats by a movcmentof the link on a line substantially parallel with its side bars, whereas in my chain the parts may be united by thrusting the end bar C c c end- Wise into the open end of the coupler by a movement of' the link on a line at right angles to its side bars.

1. In a drive-chain, a U -shaped coupler provided at its closed end with a seat adapted to articulate with the end bar of one link and having its legs grooved to engage with the end of an adjacent link, substantially as set forth.

2. A chain link having at one end a round end bar and having at its opposite end a bar with locking-ribs, in combination with a U- shaped coupler having grooves in its legs to engage with the ribs, substantially as set forth.

3. In a drive-chain, the combination, with a U-shaped coupler provided at its closed end with a seat adapted to articulate with the end bar of one link and having its legs grooved to engage with the cud of an adjacent link, of a rectangular link having a round end bar mounted in the seat of the coupler, a rectangular link having an end bar provided With ribs to engage with the U -shaped coupler, and stops a b, to prevent lateral movement of one link relative to the other, substantially as described.

4. A driveF chain consisting of U-shapcd couplers, each provided at its closed end with a seat adapted to articulate with the end bars of one link and having its legs grooved to engage with the end of an adjacent link, and the rectangular links provided with round end bars to engage with the seats in the U-shaped links and with ribbed end bars to engage with the legs of the U -shaped couplers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. LEGG.

Vitnesscs:

W. T. MCCLURE, T. M. Lrvuskv. 

